Chapter 10
Alex crossed off the last item on his sub-planning list. The live larder was fully stocked, and he could now concentrate on the finishing touches before the guests started to arrive.
He’d never seen so many lavender roses in one place, but Ben had said they were Ashley’s favourite and the sentimental sucker had insisted on sourcing as many as they could.
The additional staff had been talked to by Karl, and they were trying a new spell for restocking the bar, where someone Ben claimed to be the best mixologist in London was busy setting up.
Alex wasn’t sure if his extra pair of arms was a permanent feature or something he only sprouted when he was working.
He headed outside to double-check the portal placement.
The Crofton Hall wards had been strengthened after a recent incident.
There’d always been some restrictions, but Alex had set up multiple extra layers, and he’d created a special area for the evening for those guests who’d pre-declared they’d be arriving in such a fashion.
If they weren’t on the usual exception list or had been given access for the night, the closest they could get was the end of the drive, and they’d need to walk.
Karl was doing the necessary final touches to the outside area, ensuring there’d be no concern about the drop in temperature or inclement weather.
“How’s it going?” Alex called.
Karl turned in his direction. “Nearly done. If you wouldn’t mind checking the entrance hall to make sure the welcome drink glasses have been arranged. One of the ghosts was buzzing about earlier, and I wouldn’t put it past them to mess up my system.”
“Billins not on ghost patrol?”
Karl rolled his eyes. “As much as he ever is. He was chasing a ghost hedgehog out of the potting shed last time I saw him, and I don’t think it’s even registered we’ve a special event.”
Billins was another of the hall’s waifs and strays, a butler who had died in a fire and refused to move on. He even thought he was still in charge some days. “Probably better that way. Last time he got involved, several of the guests ended up in the lake.”
Karl hurried over to another area, and Alex sent a recon spell out over the grounds. Everything was in place, nothing reported back as out of order or misaligned. He returned inside, checked on the welcome drinks to see no misbehaving spirits.
Ben glided down the main staircase, dressed to impress in a bespoke suit and cape. “Are we all set?”
“Yes, my lord. Guests will be arriving any moment.” The invites had requested prompt arrival, which was code for turn up late and there’d be no admittance.
“Perfect. Ashley and I will be down in about an hour to make our grand entrance.” He drummed his fingers on the banister. “Ready for dragon herding?”
They’d discussed the Dorian situation, and he would be keeping a special eye out for their scaly guest. “I intend to introduce myself and offer any assistance. I understand Robin has decided not to inform Dorian that we believe Simon’s magic is being testy.”
“Correct. That’s not Dorian’s concern. He’s been told it’s a matter of them assuring Simon there’s nothing more than theirs being a friendly professional relationship.”
His alert sounded that one of the wards had been triggered by the opening of a pre-approved portal. “I do believe the first of the guests are here,” he said. “I should ensure everything is running to plan.”
“Excellent. Amazing work as ever, Alex.” Ben trotted back upstairs, and Alex took a moment to centre his inner calm.
He liked these kinds of evenings; he and Karl worked as a team, and they took great pride in delivering an event where guests enjoyed themselves, and Ben got to preen.
They’d had several over the time he’d been here, but this was the biggest and most important.
Twenty minutes later, the hall teemed with guests, alcohol was flowing, and Alex was keeping a general eye on a couple of people he thought could cause trouble if they got any more excited.
When he was younger, he’d put a lot of effort into his species detection capabilities and was on alert for the arrival of the dragon.
Dorian had arrived. He had no problems with dragons in general, would say they were some of the less annoying members of the paranormal community, and he hoped this one was similar.
They were generally less argumentative than the fae, less political than the vampires, and less obnoxious than goblins.
If it weren’t for the large teeth, propensity to breathe fire and be on the territorial side, he’d have thought them far more popular.
He wasn’t one for watching movies, and was only aware Dorian existed because of Robin, but he should have realised that a man who was a Hollywood A-lister would be drop-dead gorgeous, and he had to stamp down on his visceral reaction to the sight of Dorian leaning against the counter, looking ravishing in a perfectly fitted dinner jacket.
He had found people attractive in recent times, but he couldn’t recall when he was last so drawn to an individual.
Not since Kagin. He needed to concentrate and see if there was anything Dorian might be doing that could trigger Simon’s magic to act out.
“Mr Marsten, I’m Alexander Reynolds. I’ve been informed by His Lordship and Mr Flint that you are an important guest.” He held out his hand. “I’m Lord Crofton’s secretary, and if there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”
Dorian shook his hand. “I didn’t realise Ben had an elf on the staff. I’ve known a lot of elves and can’t say many would be happy being in your position.”
He let go of Dorian’s hand. He couldn’t sense anything other than his innate dragon-ness, and that in itself gave Alex pause.
Dorian had been exposed to Simon’s magic through Robin and spent most of his time working with other paranormal creatures; he’d have expected there to have been something else.
“True. But after spending several decades as a Red Star Delurian Guard, I thought I could try my luck at keeping a Dark Earl in line.” He smiled when he saw Dorian’s eyes widen.
He didn’t usually drop his past-life credentials, but he thought it fair play given Dorian’s comment and that he’d as good as told Dorian he was on his watchlist.
“Wow, you’re a fucking badass.”
“If I have cause, I can lean on my past experiences. Now, I am aware you’re here this evening to facilitate your meeting with Prince Simon, to cement the idea that yours and Mr Flint’s relationship is a merely platonic-cum-professional arrangement.”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Dorian’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. Alex guessed his presence here was to placate Robin, and Dorian would have been happy to skip out. “Are they here yet?”
“Mr Flint is, but His Highness will be arriving a little later.” Simon was collecting a gift for the happy couple from the fae realm, so Robin had come separately and was in the games room with the Dark Duke of Marchent.
“I should go and find him.”
“He’s engaged in House business at this current time. I’d suggest you wait until after Lord Crofton and his betrothed have made their entrance, when Mr Flint would be available.”
“Fair enough. I know a few folks here. I won’t be lonely.”
Dorian didn’t strike him as the type to be lacking for company, and dragons tended to have familial links, and he knew many that partnered for life once they’d found their nestmate.
“Indeed. Let our mixologist look after you, and I’m sure once the time is right, we can make sure your meeting with Prince Simon is successful. ”
A crackle ran down his right ear. Someone had triggered one of his alarms. “If you’ll excuse me, there’s a matter I need to take care of.”
“Maybe come find me later. We can have a drink. I’ve had some great times drinking with elves.”
Dorian was a bit of a contradiction, and he didn’t know quite what to make of him.
There was no sign he was here to cause trouble, but Alex didn’t fully trust his motivations.
Then again, he was likely to be a bit of an arsehole, being a movie star, and he could just be a common-or-garden wanker rather than a shit-stirrer.
The alarm was for the cellar door, and he arrived at the same time as Karl to hear a series of frantic whispers about someone getting their cock out. He was about to throw open the door and confront the couple when his magic reacted to a familiar signal, and he stepped back.
“We don’t want to interrupt them.”
Karl raised an eyebrow. “The cellars are out of bounds.”
“After you, but I’m not telling Sebastian Hewel not to get down and dirty with his Eternal. I like my ears where they are.”
A snigger that was recognisable as Anthony Redbourn’s was followed by a long, deep moan. They backed away. Sebastian was not a vampire to cross.
“Notice he’s circumvented both our ward spells,” Karl said as they reemerged into the servants’ hallway. “I didn’t realise he’d arrived.”
“Technically, he should be on the no-track list, but we both know it’s better to be aware that he’s turned up. I would like to figure out how he did it, though; he’s not got his own magic.”
Karl snorted. “I can live without knowing, because then we’d have to admit that we had the place rigged. And I wouldn’t be worried about my ears being out of whack and more my head.”
He did several circuits of the rooms and the terrace.
The guests were in good form, and everything was ready to receive the happy couple.
Simon had sent his apologies that he’d be a little longer than expected and asked for the wards to be kept open.
He would be the only exception, and from a quick reckoning, all the other guests had arrived.
Karl released his revelry spell, which sounded like a gong, and the guests would feel themselves being persuaded to move into position.
Alex spotted Robin at the foot of the stairs, with several members of the House of Hewel and Cartwright, but Dorian was keeping his distance within the general throng.
A collection of warlocks, including Ashley’s father, Nial Niven, was gathered on the other side, and Jack was there with Chris.
Chris looked like a fucking wet dream in a new suit, and several of the creatures around him were drooling while Chris was oblivious to the reaction he was causing.
With the entrance hall bursting at the seams, now was the perfect time for Ben and Ashley to make their entrance, and he sent Ashley the heads-up he’d requested when the guests were assembled.
If there was one thing Ben Redbourn was good at, it was making an entrance, put Senior Warlock Ashley Niven on his arm, and there wasn’t a spectacle that could beat the show.
Ben literally glided down the stairs in full evening wear and cape.
Ashley’s magic was in control here, and he was dressed in warlock regalia, which included a long midnight-blue robe and an amulet that, if Alex stared at it for too long, gave him the heebie-jeebies.
They were making a statement; they might be a couple, but they were also vampire and warlock first and foremost. Alex had wondered if they’d do something.
Ashley’s father was the chief Invigilator, a role designed to settle infighting between the Vampire Houses, and Ashley dating Ben had caused a few mutterings.
None spoken directly, as that wasn’t the vampire way, but there had been references at Council meetings to lower-ranking vampires making a fuss, and Ben had found it hilarious no one was willing to say anything to his face.
The reason for the reticence was grinning madly at the foot of the stairs with his arms wide open.
Ben and Ashley had Sebastian’s blessing, and everyone else could fuck themselves.
Alex stepped back a little to enjoy the show.
The guests applauded, and many toasts were raised.
Sebastian did a little speech about the importance of finding that special person, and once he’d finished wished everyone the best of evenings and made his excuses.
Alex would admit he breathed a little easier when Sebastian wasn’t at the hall.
He was a terrifying bastard, and despite being in his good books, he was quite aware he could be erased from them in a heartbeat.